No, they don’t justify drinking more than one glass of wine 🍷 a day! 😄
What is a condensed tannin?
Condensed tannins are also known as :
- Proanthocyanidins.
- Polyflavonoid tannins.
Tannins are chemical compounds naturally present in foods such as tea and red wine. They contribute to flavor, astringency and color.
There are two types of tannins:
- Condensed.
- Hydrolyzable.
A condensed tannin is a flavanol polymer, i.e. a chemical assembly of flavanol molecules.
Food
Condensed tannins are found in many foods, including :
- Black chokeberry.
- Red wine.
- Coffee.
- Plums.
- Grape seeds.
- Pine bark.
- Blackcurrant.
- Cacao.
- Apples.
- Strawberries.
- Black tea.
- Pecan nuts.
- Walnuts.
- Cinnamon.
- Cashew nuts.
- Almond.
- Beans.
There are thousands of tannins, varying according to their chemical structure. Hence the importance of diversifying sources, as their properties differ. For example, the tannins in an apple have not much in common with those in a bean.
How to take it?
For oral use only.
Condensed tannins are found in the above foods, but are often degraded by :
- Food processing.
- Oxidation reactions.
- Prolonged storage.
- Exposure to heat.
- Culinary preparation.
This is why it may be worthwhile to supplement my diet with tannins, in consultation with a doctor.
They can be found in capsules.
There is no such thing as a deficiency in condensed tannins, as they are not considered essential nutrients.
However, they do provide an added therapeutic benefit.
Their properties combine particularly well with those of chlorella and basil.
Contraindications
- Taking anticoagulant medication.
- Pregnancy.
- Nausea.
- Breast-feeding.
- Diarrhea.
- Intestinal gas.
Excessive consumption of these tannins may cause undesirable effects.
Therapeutic benefits
Condensed tannins are particularly appreciated by the eyes and intestines.
Medicinal properties
Proanthocyanidins are renowned for their action:
- Antioxidant.
- Astringent.
- Anti-inflammatory.
- Antimicrobial.
- Hypoglycemic.
- Restorative.
- Antifungal.
- Immunostimulant.
- Anti-hemorrhagic.
- Healing.
- Diuretic.
For which diseases?
Condensed tannins have shown promising results in cases of :
- Atherosclerosis.
- Cancer.
- Peptic ulcer disease.
- Type 2 diabetes.
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Venous insufficiency.
- Myocardial infarction.
- Herpes.
- Eczema.
- Heart failure.
- Tuberculosis.
- Parkinson’s disease.
- Bronchitis.
Emotions
While polyflavonoid tannins have remarkable medicinal properties, on their own they do not heal.
Behind most symptoms and illnesses lie deep emotional wounds.
I can discover how to deal with my emotions.
Conclusion
What are the medicinal benefits of condensed tannins?
They make a significant contribution to:
- Cell protection.
- Prevention of viral infections.
- Reducing inflammation.
Combined with emotional acceptance, they can help significantly with certain illnesses, such as cancer.